Store-service apparatus.



PATENTED OCT. 3, 1905.

QM U T A an P MP MA ww W R WE 8 E R 0 T S APPLICATION FILED HOVJB, 1901. RENEWED IBB. 12.1904.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 1 No. 800,665. PATENTBD 013,1905.

r o. W. McGORMICKJ STORE SERVICE APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILED NOV. 18, 1901. RENEWED I'BB. 12 1904.

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STORE SERVICE APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILED NOV. 18. 1901. RENEWED 1'23. 12. 1904.

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UNITED STATES PAT NT OFFICE,

CHARLES W.- MCCORMICK, OF EMPORIA, KANSAS, ASSIGNOR TO LAMSON CONSOLIDATED STORE SERVICE COMPANY, OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

STORE-SERVICE APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 3, 1905.

A plication filed November 18, 1901. Renewed February 12, 1904. Serial No. 193,342.!

To (all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES W. McCon- MIOK, of Emporia, in the county of Lyon and State of Kansas, have invented certain new and useful Im provements in Store-Service Apparatus, of which the following is aspecification.

My invention relates to new and useful improvements in cash and parcel carrier apparatus; and its object is to facilitate the despatch ofarticles between stations.

My invention consists of certain novel features hereinafter described, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

1n the accompanying drawings, which illustrate a construction embodying my invention, Figure l is a side view of my improved apparatus, showing in full lines the normal position of the basket previous to the beginning of the despatching operation and in dotted lines the positions taken by the basket on its upward movement and on its despatcli along the track. Fig. 2 is a side View illustrating the position taken by the basket when received at the inspectors station, where the goods are inspected before being wrapped up. Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail elevation of the inspectors station. Fig. 4 is a plan View of the same. Fig. 5 is a detail viewof a portion of the hanger and of the vertically-movable carriage at the salesmans end. Fig. 6 is a detail view illustrating the arrangement of pulleys and ropes for raising and lowering the vertically-movable carriage at the salesmans end, together with the governor which regulates the lowering of the carrier with its load. Fig. 7 is a plan view of the vertically-movable carriage and part of the trap. Fig. 8 is a plan view of the regulating device for lowering the basket at the salesmans end and a portion of the tripping mechanism and the casting with pulleys. Fig. 9 is a detail side view of the carrier. Fig. 10 is a plan view of the same. Fig. 11 is a side elevation of the device for taking up the slack in the wire. Fig. 12 is a similar view after the device has been moved one-sixteenth of an inch to take up the slack. Fig. 13 is a similar view after the take-up device has been further moved to take up the slack. Fig. 14 is a side view of one part of the wire-tightener. Fig. 15 is an under plan view of one part of the wire-tightener. Figs. 16 and 17 are respectively side and plan vating rope.

views of the other part of the Wire-tightener. Fig. 18 is an enlarged detail side view of the carrier. Fig. 19 is adetail side view of a portion of the carrier-basket and one of the connecting-bails. Fig. 20 is a detail side view showing the carrier on its travel from the inspectors station back to the salesmans station. Fig. 21 is a perspective view of the swivel connection adapted to slide on the ele- Figs. 22 and 23 are respectively side and end elevations of the swivel connection and the connection between the swivel and the end of the elevatingrope. Fig. 24 is a side view of the connection between the swivel and the end of the elevatingrope and showing the swivel curved to conform to the bending of the rope.

Like -letters of reference refer to like parts throughout the several views.

With the parts in the position shown in full lines, Fig. 1, it being desired to send a bundle from the salesmans station to the inspectors station, the salesman takes hold of the rope A and throws it to the rear to release the button A from the spring rope-stop A, (through which it passes upwardly.) thus allowing the basket A to drop to the position shown at 0 in dotted lines, Fig. 1. The operator then pulls the rope A in a downward direction, which causes the vertically-movable carriage B and the trap B to move into the position shown in dotted lines, Fig. 1, in which position the carriage B engages the latch B and is held in its upper position, as shown in dotted lines, Fig. 1. During this upward movement of the carriage B and trap B the basket has only moved a like distance, as shown in dotted lines at a, Fig. 1. The pull being continued on the rope A, the carrier, with its basket, is lifted and takes its departure from the incline of the rope shown in dotted lines and travels onto the track-wire C, as indicated at 7/, dotted lines, toward the inspectors end. The trackwire C having been raised to give it sufficient incline, the carrier C, with its basket A, continues its travel until it reaches the position shown in full lines, Fig. 2, where it is detained on the detent formed by the rope C on the trap C in explaining the arrangement of the ropes and vertically-movable carriage at the salesmans end reference is made to Figs. 5, 6, 7, and 8. The pulley-rope A passes behind the carriage B and around the pulley A, then down and around the pulley A" of the trap B, then up around the pulley A, then through the governor A, and then around the pulley A and down to and around the pulley 1- a on the i )ulley-standar(.l A", secured to the trap B. and then the rope extends through the idler D and the end is connected at D to the link 1) of the trap B. The pulleys A A and A are carried by the casting B, which is secured firmly in place on the upper end of the hanger B, and the governor A, of the usual constructionfis secured on one end of said casting and held in the position shown in Fig. 6. By the arrangement above described the carriage B is caused to look at the upper end of the hanger B at the time the carriage reaches the dotted position a, Fig. 1, so that the carrier, with its basket, does not start upon its travel until the rope reaches the inclined position, as shown in dotted lines at the upper part of Fig. 1, and, further, the carriage, being locked before the carrier starts, there is no liability of the trap B dropping before the carrier, with its basket, reaches the inspectors end, and consequently the incline of the wire is maintained to cause the carrier, with its basket, to travel from the salesmans end to the inspectors end of the line. When the carrier,with its basket, approaches the inspectors end, it depresses the rope G of the trap (3 (shown in Fig. 2) and causesthe wheel C, provided with the arm C (mounted eccentrically.) to revolve one-half a revolution, as shown in Fig. 2, from the dotted to the full position, as the rope is fixed on the wheel C by the screw (3, which motion causes a pull on the trip-wire C, which is attached to the fork C secured to the upper end of the latch B, and moves the upper end of said latch B inwardly against the spring G, and the lower end of the latch B outwardly, so as to release the vertically-movable carriage B and allow it to return to its normal position. (Shown in full lines, Fig. 1.) in the construction of the arm (J mounted eccentrically on the wheel C, jou rnaled in the arm C, carried by the trap Cat the inspectors end, it will be seen that said arm has a downward bend C near the point where it is pivoted to the wheel C, so as to admit of the centers passing or being set in direct line with the strain without the pivot C of the wheel coming into contact with said arm. After the inspector has returned the bundle to the basket he pulls down on the handle C and moves it to the position shown in dotted lines, which lifts the carrier out of the detent formed by the rope G of the trap C, which causes the carrier to take its departure and return to the salemans end, as the trap-wire is 'sufliciently inclined to cause the travel of the carrier, with its basket, by gravity, and the carrier approaching the salesmans end runs over the wire-tightener E, link D onto the inclined portion of the rope (shown in Fig. 2) and descends by gravity, this descent being automatically regulated by the governor A, and drops until it reaches the position shown in full lines, Fig. 1, where it is arrested by the button A coming in con tact with the rope-stop A, thereby preventing the carrier, with its basket, from being lowered onto the heads of the clerks and customers and being in position for the next operation. This pull on the handle C returns the arm C to its normal position, (shown in full lines, Fig. 3,) and the slack of the trip-wire G is taken-up by the spring (1, which moves the lower end of the latch W to move inwardly in position to engage the carriage B upon its next rise.

The coiled-spring idler I) has advantages in that it conforms to the shape of the wheels of the carrier, and in case the rope is pulled it does not bring the pull at the extreme ends. This swivel-idler does not chafe the rope and wear it away, as it conforms to any loop the rope may take.

Referring to Figs. 22, 23, and 24, it is desirable to have a swivel connection between the end of the rope and the idler, because in damp weather the rope contracts and in dry weather it expands, and having been adjusted to a certain position in wet weather will twist upon itself and become entangled when the weather is dry, and vice versa; but with an idler employing aswivel connection, as shown, this difficulty of the twisting of the rope is avoided. This arrangement is provided by connecting to the idler l) the frame F, in the bottom of which is supported to move freely the swivel F, the book of which engages the hook F of an ordinary screw-eye F", which is secured lirmly up into the rope, which has been previously coun'n'essed and formed into a compact substance by screwing onto the end thereof the swivel coiled-wire spring-ferrule, whereby the rope is held securely in place and a swivel connection is provided between the idler and the end of the rope. This ferrule F has a tapering form leaving only a small aperture sullicient to admit the screw-eye F, thus preventing any fray at the end of the rope.

In the manufacture of the carrier it is desirable to have a detachable bail in order that the baskets when shipped in quantities may be nested together without the bails, thus saving room in packing.

When it is desired to connect the carriers and the basket by the bails G, the hook (Jr is passed around the pin (l' in the casting G four of which are secured to the sides of the basket, (two on each side,) after which the cross-bar Ur" is screwed on the upper ends of two opposite bails sulficiently to bring them into proper position, and then the two crossbars are secured by the forks (-l" to the depending lugs Gr of the carrier by suitable pins It is desirable at times to adjust the tension of the track-wire (J, and the device E, which 1 have designed, is compact and sufficiently thin so, that the carrier can pass over it on its travel from end to end. Further, it will not turn or yield to the strain of the twists in the wire, which is always present and which is inherent in its manufacture, and my device maintains the wire in any desired position, whereas the usual device with a screw for this purpose was objectionable, owing to the fact that the screw is constantly becoming loosened, causing the derangement of the adjustment. This device E may be located at either or both ends of the track-wire C and consists of an upper piece or arm E, through the end E of which the wire passes, and is secured on the stud E of the fork E of the strip E provided with a series of holes E", one of which at least is adapted at one time to aline with one of the holes Eof the upper piece E as the strip E is adjusted from time to time in the slot E of the upper piece E. Assuming the take-up device E to be in the position shown in Fig. 11 and it is desired to tighten up the wire, the screw E is removed and the strip E moved rearwardly to the position shown in Fig. 12, and the screw E is then passed through the second of the holes E of the upper piece E and through one of the holes in the strip E and being tightened up holds the wire in a taut position. If the wire should become loose, the screw E is removed from' its position shown in 'Fig. 12 and the strip E moved inwardly and the screw E then inserted, as shown in Fig. 13, and screwed up to hold the track-wire in taut position.

The carrier C is removable and can be replaced on the line by lifting the spring-lock H and raising the latch H to allow the rope A or (1, as the case may be, to come under the wheels H of the carrier. The lock H is held by the spring H in a vertical position with the central portion H extending inwardly over the center of the latch to hold the latch in its downward position, as shown, to prevent the carrier from jumping off from any cause whatever, and as the carrier approaches the inspectors end it passes over the cross-piece H of. the trap C, which construction is also found in the trap B, and in order to pass over this cross-piece H assuming it to-be coming in at the inspectors end, the finger H strikes the latch H and moves it upwardly, and the lower end of the latch moves along the upper .part of the finger H until it has passed by said finger, when the spring H causes the lock H to spring backwardly and move the latch downward into the position shown in Fig. 18, the said latch having been raised as it passes over the crosspiece H of the trap H When the carrier is returned from the inspectors end, the same operation takes place at the trap Gand trap B. The latch H is guided in its upward and downward movements by the fixed stud H, moving in the slots H of the latch H. Briefly, the lock H holds the latch H in the locked position, as shown in Fig. 18, excepting when passing in either direction over the crosspiece H of the trap H and also when passing over a similar cross-piece on the trap B. The upper position of the latch H is shown in dotted lines, Fig. 18, which position is assumed as the carrier C passes over the crosspiecc H of the trap C or the similar crosspiece of the trap B.

Having thus described the nature of my invention and set forth a construction embodying the same, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is

1. In an apparatus of the character described, a track fixed at one end and movable at the other, a carrier adapted to travel on said track, mechanism for varying the inclination of said track, a catch for holding the movable end of the track in its upper positioru means operated by the carrier for releasing said catch to allowthe movable end of the track to return to its lower position, said means consisting of a trip-wire connected to an arm mounted eccentrically on a wheel whereby the movement of the wheel caused by the carrier pulls the trip-wire and releases the catch.

2. In an apparatus of the character described, a track, a carrier adapted to travel on said track, a latch for retaining the carrier on the track, and a lock for holding said latch to prevent the carrier leaving the track and adapted to allow the movement of the latch as the carrier passes intothe stations.

3. In an apparatus of the character described, a track, a wire-tightener device for taking up the slack of the track-wire and consisting of an arm having a slot in its under side, a strip adapted to be adjusted in said slot, and means for securing said strip to said arm after being adjusted.

4. In an apparatus of the character described, a track, a wire-tightener device for taking up the slack ot' the track-wire and consisting of an arm having a slot in its under side, a strip adapted to be longitudinally adjusted in said slot, and means for securing said strip to said arm after being adjusted.

5. In an apparatus of the character described, atrack-wire fixed at one end and movable at the other, a trap to which the movable end is connected, a rope for raising the trap to vary the inclination of the track and pivotally connected at one end to a link journaled on said trap and at its other end movably connected to itself by a coiled-Wire idler, a swivel connection between the idler and the end of the rope, a coiled-wire ferrule secured on the end of the rope, and a screw-hook adapted to for holding said carriage in its upper posi' tion, and devices cooperating with said elevating-rope and adapted to cause the engagement of said carriage with its catch to hold? -it in its upper position before the carrier isg raised into position for transmission to the@ opposite end of the line. In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two snbscribing witnesses, this 1st day of August, A. 1 D. 1901. 1

CHARLES W. MCCORMICK.

Witnesses:

A'. L. Mlcsslan, C. A. S'rmmn'r. 

